Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thig, v. Also: thigg(e, thige, thyg. [ME þigge (c1175), thigg (a1300), thigge (c1300), thyg (c1450), OE þicg(e)an, ON þiggja. Also in the later dial.]

1. tr. To solicit (food, subsistence) by begging.pres. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 463.
Myn met of[te] thygand, [sa] that I Frely mycht serwe to lychery & seldyne spane for my fud a1500 Bk. Chess 1486.
In Arabe … Thiggand his breid & beggand in the land 1529 Rec. Earld. Orkney 59.
James, his brothers and complices … has banisht divers of thame furt of Orknay, quhilkis with thair wiffs and barnis ar now thigand thair mete in Ingland and Norway 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 107.
My brother is and salbe vicar of Crayll quhen thow sal thyg thy mayt, fals smayk 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 166.
Suppois the barnis thair bread suld go thigp.t. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 124.
Fore nothyre of thame had vthire gud Bot that thai thigyt to thare fud a1400 Leg. S. xxiv 169.
& ilke day thigyt his lyf-led At thame that passag by thare mad a1538 Abell 85a.
In wintir coakkit to pas furth & first we thiggit our meit fra dur to dur wnkend and now we cast petis to get the nedis of natur

b. To solicit (a person) for food. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2037.
Thocht we wald thig ȝone verray churlische chuff, He will not giff vs ane hering off his creill, Befoir ȝone churle on kneis thocht we wald kneill

c. intr. To beg; to crave alms. Also proverb. and quasi-proverb. a1400 Leg. S. xxi 212.
That thyggis & thi met ma wyne 1424–5 Acts II 8/1.
That na thiggar be thollyt to thyg … betuix xiiij & lxx ȝeris of age bot thai be sene be the consall of the tovn or the commons of the cuntre that thai may nocht wyn thar leffing otherwayis 1427–8 Acts II 16/1.
At na liperous folk sit to thig nother in kirk nor in kirk ȝarde a1500 Henr. Fab. 2741.
How durst thow tak on hand … To put him fra his tak and gar him thig? 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I 30.
And the saidis craftismen to vse … the said ile as thair awin proper ile … and haf the day of Sanct Jhone the Baptist and to thig to the licht of the said altar as vtheris dois in the kirk yerlie a1500 Bk. Chess 1976.
The gentill man that waistis all his geire That has no craft [etc.] … And has a schame to thig quhat will he syne Bot reif or steile a1568 Balnaves in Bann. MS 138b/48.
To tar and tig syne grace to thig That is ane petous preis 1587 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 510.
The cordiner chops presently voyde … [to] be imployet to the resaving and lugeing of the puir littell aynes that gangs thiggand throw the gaits c1615 Breve Cron. Earlis Ross 7.
Seven bretherene that then wer in the place, willinglie oblist thameselffis to povertie, and to beg and thig through the country 1665 Fraser Polichron. 281.
I will not goe begg nor thigg amongst my friends 1667 Highland P. II 24.
Ther came a gentleman to McKenzie's house to thigg. The gentleman wes the laird of Brodie, and after he wes served in his thiggins … he said qhat for a man he getteth his supper but he should work for his dinnerproverb. a1568 Bann. MS 135a/45.
He that is vsd to thig Is laith to leif the craft a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 320.
He that borrows and bigs, makes feasts and thigs, drinkes and is not dry, these three are not thirftie a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 337.
Better thig, nor steill and be hangit 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. Bk. 24.
He thet usis to thigge May lang keip his craft

2. tr. To crave, seek (a favour). Also intr. a1400 Leg. S. l 1144.
Graunt thaim thar bowne I thig at thé c1475 Wall. ii 260.
Scho … thyggyt leiff away with him to fayr 1513 Doug. vi viii 110.
On siklyke wys … Gret goddis mot the Grekis recompens Gif I may thyg avengeans 1513 Doug. vii ix 75.
Thai thyg vengeance at the goddis 1577 Waus Corr. 143.
And now in ane maner I man thig the payment of it at yowintr. a1578 Pitsc. I 125/1.
They war faine to thige [1728 thigg] and cry for peace and good will of Scottismen